Anas ibn Malik

Anas ibn Malik al-Ansari (612-711 CE) served the Prophet Muhammad for ten consecutive years, from the time of the Hijrah until the Prophet's death. His mother, Umm Sulaym, brought him to the Prophet as a young boy of ten and asked the Prophet to accept him as a servant. The Prophet treated Anas with extraordinary kindness, never once scolding him or saying 'Why did you do this?' or 'Why didn't you do that?' during the entire decade of service.

Anas narrated over 2,200 hadith, making him one of the top narrators among the companions. His narrations are especially valuable because they provide intimate details of the Prophet's daily life, personal habits, character, and worship practices that only someone in such close proximity could observe. He witnessed all the major events of the Medinan period and participated in several battles, including the conquest of Mecca.

After the Prophet's death, Anas eventually settled in Basra, Iraq, where he became one of the most important teachers of hadith and Islamic knowledge. His students included many of the greatest Tabiin scholars, such as Hasan al-Basri, Muhammad ibn Sirin, and Qatadah ibn Diamah. Anas was one of the very last companions to die, passing away in Basra in 93 AH (711 CE) at approximately one hundred years of age. The Prophet had prayed for him, saying, 'O Allah, increase his wealth and children, and bless him in what You give him,' and Anas reported that he saw the fulfillment of this prayer throughout his long life.